By Kimberly Rau
“A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical,” begins its national tour in Providence this week, which also marks the start of PPAC’s 2024-2025 season. Though it is a jukebox musical, which has a polarizing effect among Broadway fans, “A Beautiful Noise” is certainly one of the best in its genre. If you liked “Jersey Boys” and “Beautiful,” read on.
Like most music sensations, Neil Diamond’s life has had its share of tumultuous moments, many of which are chronicled in the show, but the musical benefits by leaning into a non-linear storytelling approach. The story is framed through the lens of Diamond, present day, in his therapist’s office. Unable to perform anymore, the superstar has fallen into a funk, leading his third wife to insist on therapy. Though resistant, he starts telling his story based around his songs. So we get the “eager songwriter starting out” arc (“I’m a Believer,” which Diamond wrote for The Monkees), the “my high school sweetheart and I aren’t going to last forever” moment, the “I signed a contract with the mafia” conundrum, and so on. It feels authentic – some turning points are easier for us to unpack than others. For instance, it’s not until later in the first act that we get a hint of Diamond’s lonely childhood.
Act 1 ends with Diamond writing one of his most memorable hits, “Sweet Caroline,” a fan favorite that is especially beloved here in New England (Yankees fans, feel free to disagree). Then in Act 2, it’s one great song after another, but also a deeper dive into Diamond’s demons. Some in the audience found it a bit much (“we get it, you’re depressed, you’re rich, you’re famous, you’re old,” one person was overheard saying coming out of the theater), but to me it just seemed like proof that at a certain point, money and fame can’t buy you happiness (but it can certainly get you plenty of distractions…until you can’t perform anymore).
It’s a strong biographical story, with two Diamonds telling it. There’s older Neil, grey-haired and slower moving in comfy clothes, and there’s young Neil, an energetic man with dark hair and more sequins than any one man should be allowed. Together, they paint a complete picture of a man maturing while grappling with fame, and both actors are fantastic.
Robert Westenberg as the elder superstar is the emotional conduit, giving a strong performance with solid acting choices. When we finally do get to hear him sing (after insisting to his therapist he would never), it feels like a breakthrough and is wonderful to listen to. No surprise – Westenberg has some incredible vocal roles to his name, including the demanding title role of “Sunday in the Park with George,” the wolf in “Into the Woods,” and Dr. Craven in “The Secret Garden.”
Nick Fradiani is the main voice of the show, and does a great Diamond tribute without it feeling like mimicry. Fradiani, who also played the role on Broadway, is full of charisma and a magnetism that does Diamond’s days of fame justice, as one woman after another falls for his charms. His voice is fantastic, as well.
But behind every great man, they say, is a great woman, and in this show, there are two of them. Tiffany Tatreau plays Jaye, Diamond’s high school sweetheart, doting first wife and mother of his two eldest daughters. They stay together through the start of Diamond’s career, when Marcia Murphey (Hannah Jewel Kohn) catches his eye. She would go on to be his wife of nearly three decades before Diamond’s constant absence becomes too much and they call it quits. (We never get to see his third wife.) Tatreau is a beautiful singer, getting some time to shine in multiple solos of some of Diamond’s biggest songs. Kohn is a great vocalist, too, but is a sensational dancer, and fortunately, we get to see a lot of footwork from her.
Given Diamond’s penchant for showmanship, there had to be a strong ensemble to provide the requisite backup vocals and dance, and “A Beautiful Noise,” directed by Michael Mayer with a book by Anthony McCarten, doesn’t disappoint. The choreography (Steven Hoggett) is pristine, the costumes (Emilio Sosa) are on point for every decade the show takes us through, and the sets and lights (David Rockwell; Kevin Adams) are excellent. Clearly, the producers didn’t spare much expense putting this tour together, and the audience knew it, keeping the energy high while being treated to more than 30 Diamond hits, including “Cherry, Cherry,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “America,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “Sweet Caroline,” and, of course, “A Beautiful Noise.”
Overall, this is a strong show, with only a few moments where things start to lag (the longer therapeutic discovery scenes toward the end slow things in a way that feels incongruent after two hours of hit after hit, though the show ends on an energetic note). If you’re a Neil Diamond fan, or just like biographical musicals, this is one show you probably don’t want to say you missed. Check it out with this cast before it leaves for the rest of the national tour.
“A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” runs through Sept. 28, 2024, at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at ppacri.org or by calling 401.421.2787
